Perfect Superstar.

"You still dare to laugh!"

Chen Jianhao put on a stern face and said, "Do you realize how much trouble you're in? My cousin isn't someone you want to mess with. Offending her today will cause you a lot of pain in the future!"

Though his tone was serious, Lu Chen wasn't afraid. He smiled and asked, "Boss, do you mean that I should sign the contract?"

"Whether you sign or not is up to you," Chen Jianhao waved his hand dismissively. "But starting tonight, you're officially a resident vagabond singer at Daylily!"

Lu Chen was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Thank you, boss!"

Previously, he was just a request-based vagabond singer, which was the lowest rung in the bar singer circle. He had no guaranteed income and relied entirely on tips. If he was lucky, he might get a chance to perform and earn some money; if not, he could go a whole night without singing a single song.

But being a resident vagabond singer was different. Although there was still no fixed salary, his performance time was guaranteed, the tip share was increased to 70%, and he could even perform at other bars.

Compared to being a request-based singer and part-time waiter, becoming a resident vagabond singer meant Lu Chen no longer had to serve customers, yet his income would significantly increase!

"Sing well," Chen Jianhao encouraged, opening a can of beer and handing it to Lu Chen. "Little Lu, if you can maintain your current level and come up with a few more outstanding original songs, I believe you'll eventually make it big and become the first star to rise out of Daylily Bar!"

Chen Jianhao had never said such things to any other vagabond singer at the bar, not even to the signed artists Zhang Nana or Qin Hanyang, both of whom were far more experienced and famous than Lu Chen!

Compared to Su Qingmei, he had more faith in Lu Chen's future.

Lu Chen was touched and downed the beer in one go.

He placed the empty bottle on the table, wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth, and sincerely said, "Boss, if that day ever comes, I'll buy some shares of Daylily Bar, no matter the cost!"

Chen Jianhao was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "Alright, you can become a small boss then, hahaha!"

He understood that Lu Chen was expressing his gratitude and loyalty.

But Chen Jianhao didn't take it too seriously. There were many talented and gifted young people drifting through the Capital City, but how many actually made it? Most remained unknown and eventually faded into obscurity.

Pointing toward the bar, Chen Jianhao said, "Little Lu, your customers are calling for you, so get going!"

Lu Chen turned around and saw several familiar customers waving at him.

As a bar singer, unless they're a little-known star, few would refuse to interact with customers. They'd drink together, chat about music and life, and even earn some drink commissions.

The customers at Daylily Bar were generally well-behaved, and there were rarely any unpleasant situations.

Lu Chen liked working here because of the good atmosphere.

"I'll head over then…"

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment before asking, "Boss, does tonight's tip share count as a resident vagabond singer's?"

Chen Jianhao's face darkened, and he angrily shouted, "Get out of here!"

Lu Chen ducked his head and ran away.

...

By the time Lu Chen left Daylily Bar, it was almost midnight.

In May, the Capital City's late-night still carried a bit of a chill. The night breeze swept through the empty pedestrian street, making Lu Chen instinctively hunch his shoulders. He almost sneezed— the temperature difference between inside and outside the bar was significant.

But his heart was burning with excitement.

That heat came from the 4700 Yuan bills tucked in his pocket, feeling warm and heavy.

Even though he had become a resident vagabond singer at Daylily Bar, Lu Chen still worked his final shift as a waiter and received his monthly paycheck.

From the cashier lady, Lu Chen learned that the waiter, Little Gao, who had a grudge against him, had been fired by the boss. The reason, as hinted by the sound engineer who had mysteriously approached him earlier, became somewhat clear to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh. He wasn't a petty person, but he wasn't a saint either. Seeing someone he disliked get fired naturally brought him some joy.

However, no satisfaction could compare to the thrill of holding forty-seven crisp, new bills.

A third of the money was from his work as a waiter, which wasn't much because the month was incomplete. The remaining two-thirds came from the night's tips— 70% of the resident singer's share!

Chen Jianhao was a good boss. Although he was strict with his employees, he wasn't stingy. The tips for the singers were always settled the same night, without delay.

Over 3,000 yuan in tips was the largest extra income Lu Chen had earned in the six months he had worked at Daylily Bar!

And this was only the beginning!

Suddenly, Lu Chen was filled with hope for the future. The gloom and frustration that had once clouded his mind were completely dispelled. He quickened his pace towards the subway station.

He raced like a youth!

Catching the last subway of the night, Lu Chen returned to his small, humble abode.

After a quick shower, he went to bed.

He slept dreamlessly through the night.

At 6:30 a.m., Lu Chen woke up on time.

He worked two jobs, putting in over 15 hours a day with only two days off a month.

Today was his day off, so he could have slept in. But out of habit, he opened his eyes, stared at the drab cement ceiling of his cramped room, and couldn't fall back asleep.

A sense of anxiety crept into Lu Chen's heart. He feared that the things he had gained in his dreams might vanish when he woke up.

Familiar yet distant memories quickly surfaced in his mind, washing away all his anxiety.

He turned over and got out of bed, quickly dressed, slipped on his worn-out sneakers, and after hastily finishing his morning routine, he left the basement.

At this time, everyone else was still asleep. Through the fireproof boards, he could hear the sound of snoring, rising and falling— these were the "Ant Tribe" of Beijing, who considered sleeping in until noon on a Sunday as the greatest luxury.

Once outside the residential area, Lu Chen crossed the road and ran to the riverbank, then continued running along the artificial river.

His job was too demanding, with too little rest, so he never had the habit of morning exercise. Running to his part-time job at KFC each morning was the closest thing to a workout he had.

But today, he just wanted to run. Otherwise, he would feel an uncomfortable emptiness in his heart.

By this time, the sky had already brightened. The riverbank, shaded by green willows, was still covered with a thin layer of mist. The paths and flowerbeds were already dotted with people exercising, most of them elderly.

A few birdcages hung from the tree branches, with Thrushes hopping around inside, occasionally letting out crisp, pleasant chirps.

After running briskly for over ten minutes, Lu Chen's stamina was almost depleted. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, his breathing grew heavy, his legs felt like they were filled with lead, and his mouth tasted faintly of rust.

His body was protesting the lack of long-term exercise. After all, when he usually ran to work, it was only for four or five minutes at most, and not at such a fast pace.

However, there was still a voice in Lu Chen's mind, urging him, encouraging him, supporting him, telling him to keep running.

For his future, he needed a healthy and strong physique!

So, driven by a certain belief, Lu Chen gritted his teeth and kept running until his steps gradually became lighter.

He was still very young, and youth was his greatest asset, so anything was possible.

Near noon, Lu Chen returned to his small basement dwelling.

Of course, he hadn't spent the entire morning exercising. Most of the time was spent on daily chores, like depositing the money he earned last night into his bank card, shopping at the nearby mall for a new but affordable sports outfit and shoes, and finally going to the supermarket to buy daily necessities.

After running back and forth, fully loaded, Lu Chen's clothes were soaked with sweat with layer upon layer, and sticking uncomfortably to his body.

However, he didn't rush to shower or change his clothes. Instead, he opened his computer and transferred the 4,000 Yuan he had just deposited in his bank card, sending the money separately to his mother, Fang Yun, and his sister, Lu Xue.

After these transactions, he only had a little over 300 yuan left in his pocket.

But Lu Chen wasn't worried because he was full of hope for the future!

Having completed the transfers, Lu Chen felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He relaxed, but also felt the accumulated fatigue and soreness in every part of his body.

Today, he had exercised far more than usual, exceeding his usual limits, and the consequences were unavoidable.

He took off his sweat-soaked clothes, preparing to take a shower in the bathroom.

Ding-Ding-Ding~

Just then, the phone on his small desk started ringing, its indicator light flashing continuously.

Without even looking, Lu Chen reached out and answered the call.

"Big brother, what are you doing?"

On the other end of the line, Lu Xue's familiar voice came through sounding clear and pleasant, carrying the youthful energy of a young girl.

Lu Xue was seventeen this year and was a second-year high school student back in Lu Chen's hometown.

Lu Chen replied, "I was just about to take a shower and then go eat!"

Lu Xue responded with a soft "Mm" and then asked, "Big brother, did you come into some money? Why did you send me money?"

"Sort of," Lu Chen chuckled. "I made over 4,000 Yuan yesterday, sent 3,000 to Mom, and gave you 500 for pocket money. Isn't that touching? Say it, I'm the best brother in the world!"

"Drop dead!"

Even over the phone, Lu Chen could imagine his sister rolling her eyes. "You're not too bad, but you didn't need to send me that much. Mom already gives me pocket money, and you shouldn't work so hard. Take care of yourself, okay?"

Listening to his sister's nagging on the phone, Lu Chen couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in his heart.

Before the family's troubles, Lu Xue had been the little princess loved by everyone. Back then, 500 yuan wouldn't have been enough for her to buy a pair of shoes. She never had to refuse anything like this.

"Alright, just focus on your studies, and call me if you need anything."

After chatting for a few more minutes and confirming the situation at home, Lu Chen ended the call with Lu Xue.

He rushed into the small bathroom, shut the door, and turned on the faucet.

Cold tap water streamed out of the showerhead, transforming into fine jets of water that hit his body.

Lu Chen closed his eyes, and memories of the past began to resurface in his mind.

(End of Chapter)